If your ideal getaway includes expending some energy and having an adrenaline rush whilst exploring the great outdoors, our activity and adventure holiday specialists can guide you to a fantastic range of tailor-made breaks, all around the world.

Sun, sea and sand... sometimes you simply want to slow down and relax on a luxurious beach. We can arrange beach getaways around the world, such as Caribbean scene stealers and Indian Ocean atolls and the pristine sands of eastern and southern Africa.

Escorted tours are a great way to maximise your time and take advantage of local knowledge and support, whether you’re after the camaraderie of sharing amazing sights and stories with new friends, or looking for a more personalised experience.

Culinary tours offer a way to get close to a region’s culture, showcasing the best of local farming and tradition. With Wexas, enjoy everything from little-known local discoveries to fine wine tastings at the world’s best vineyards.

Step back in time and watch the world go by on a luxurious great railway journey. Inspired by the great train rides of the age of steam, and an opportunity for greener travel, holidaymakers around the world are choosing life at a more leisurely, stylish and intimate pace.

From the Pyramids to the Parthenon. local history and culture add a rich flavour to any travel experience. Whether you want to explore the great opera house of Sydney or the Palaeolithic paintings of France our specialists can help you find your ideal holiday.

Let us plan a luxury honeymoon that will take your breath away. Our honeymoon holiday specialists can build you a customised itinerary to any of the world's most romantic destinations, and will be on-hand the entire time you're away to ensure your trip-of-a-lifetime goes off without a hitch.

Earth’s natural wonders make for breath-taking destinations. No-one who has been close can ever forget the sights and sounds of the great waterfalls of Iguazu on the border of Brazil and Argentina, or the Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

A luxury safari holiday in the wilderness game reserves of East and Southern Africa is an unbeatable experience. Whether a wildlife-only trip or combined with a beach or city extension, the thrill of getting close to majestic big cats, elephants and other animals on a luxury safari forges a lifetim…

Experience the thrill of a winter holiday in destinations such as Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Where else can you stay at a hotel built from blocks of freshly cut ice. ride husky sleds and snowmobiles through frozen forests or soak in a hot tub beneath the Northern Lights?

Luxury spa breaks are the ultimate in indulgence, whether you choose an island resort in the Indian Ocean, Thailand or Malaysia, a boutique hotel on South Africa’s Garden Route or a long weekend relaxing closer to home.

Before or after the crowds are set to arrive, you can find some of the best destinations just as they were meant to be enjoyed. What's more, prices are often much lower, while finding the perfect places to stay becomes easier. Browse our top picks but be quick – they change weekly!

Whether you’re looking to sample one of Europe’s cultural hotspots with a quick city break, fancy a shopping trip to New York, a wildlife and wilderness escape or a long weekend of sun and sea, our short break specialists are here to help you create your perfect mini-adventure.

For over 100 years, Taj has offered its visitors exemplary Indian hospitality in luxurious locations. From the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai to the luxury Banjaar Tola tented camp overlooking Kanha National Park, guests have enjoyed splendid access to the finest places to explore in India.

Getting behind the wheel of a car and hitting the open road is one of life's greatest thrills. That's why we're offering free car hire on your next self-drive holiday. Simply book before 30th September to take advantage of this fantastic offer.

Before or after the crowds are set to arrive, you can find some of the best destinations just as they were meant to be enjoyed. What's more, prices are often much lower, while finding the perfect places to stay becomes easier. Browse our top picks but be quick – they change weekly!

Wexas offers extraordinary tailor-made journeys to the world’s finest destinations. But luxury is about far more than five-star hotels; here are some of the ways that we provide a high-end experience on every step of your journey.

The beauty of tailor-made travel is that every trip is designed around your individual needs. Our destination specialists will work with you to create a luxury holiday that matches your tastes and interests, as well as your available time and finances.

All of our destination specialists are passionate about travel. It's their knowledge of the regions they specialise in and their ability to draw from personal experience that allows them to put together seamless tailor-made itineraries time after time.

Traveller magazine is the UK's longest-running travel magazine; since 1970 it has reported on the real experience of travelling the world, publishing articles by today's leading explorers, adventurers, photographers and travel writers, as well as tips and opinions from our destination specialists.

Wexas Travel insurance offers genuinely extensive cover for peace of mind while you are travelling. Using our 47 years' experience, we have designed a policy that offers extensive cover, along with a range of optional add-ons that includes winter sports, cruises and business trips.

About

This tailor-made holiday has been designed to showcase New Zealand's South Island finest highlights in a compact, self-drive tour. Beginning in Christchurch, you'll cross the country on one of the world's most scenic rail journeys before collecting your hire car in Greymouth to explore the caves and crevasses of Fox Glacier and the peaks of Queenstown's Remarkables to the tangled rainforest around Doubtful Sound and the electric blue of luminous Lake Tekapo. Along the way you'll enjoy everything from whale-watching tours in Kaikoura to a heli-hikes on Fox or Franz Josef Glacier and an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. If you've got more time, why not combine this itinerary with our Highlights of the North Island fly-drive?

Day by day itinerary

Days
1-2
UK/Christchurch

Begin your holiday in style with included airport lounge access, leaving you relaxed for your flight to Christchurch, which arrives on day three.

Day
3
Christchurch

Arrive into charming Christchurch and transfer to your hotel. It's long been regarded as New Zealand’s most ’English’ city, with its botanical gardens, weeping willows and summertime punting on the Avon River. For further respite, perhaps make a jaunt to next-door Arrowtown, a historic town that's still living off its mining town riches.

Day
4
Kaikoura Whale Watch

Take a day trip to the whale-watching capital of New Zealand, Kaikoura, for our highly recommended tour. Every trip is a unique experience, and, as you head out on a purpose-built catamaran, complete with outside viewing deck and plasma screen displays, you'll look out for giant sperm whales, migratory humpbacks (Jun to Jul), orcas (Dec to Mar), fur seals, and both hector and dusky dolphins. That's not to mention mainland New Zealand’s largest variety of sea birds, including albatross, petrels and shearwaters. What's more, passenger numbers are kept to a minimum to ensure the best possible experience. Return to Christchurch after the tour.

Days
5-6
Franz Josef or Fox Glacier

Transfer to Christchurch railway station to begin one of the world’s great scenic rail journeys. The TranzAlpine Train crosses the country from east to west, heading first through the patchwork farmland of the Canterbury Plains before crossing a series of spectacular viaducts and climbing into the snow-dusted landscapes of the Southern Alps. After stopping at Arthur’s Pass, you’ll emerge from the Otira Tunnel and descend through subtropical rainforest past beautiful Lake Brunner, finally reaching Greymouth. Then, having collected your hire car, you'll drive down the coast to Fox Glacier (Superior) or Franz Josef (Deluxe) for an exhilarating heli-hike. These thrilling excursions combine a short scenic flight with a guided walk among the glaciers' caves, crevasses and blue-tinted pinnacles.

Days
7-8
Queenstown

Your destination today is Queenstown, set against a backdrop of the Remarkables mountain range and the deep blue of Lake Wakatipu. This is New Zealand at its adventurous and beautiful best, where everything from skydiving to winery visits make the most of the town's uniquely beautiful setting. It's also the gateway to one of the region's most spectacular walks, the Hollyford Track, which we can include on a guided three-day extension.

Day
9
Doubtful Sound

Following a short cruise across Lake Manapouri, two hours' drive from Queenstown, and a coach trip on the remote sub-alpine route over Wilmot Pass, you'll board the Fjordland Navigator for an overnight wilderness cruise amid the unspoilt beauty of Doubtful Sound. Your ship is purpose built for sailing New Zealand's fjords and offers spacious viewing decks, a comfortable dining room, a licensed bar and an observation lounge. As you travel, knowledgeable nature guides will point out the pod of resident dolphins, fur seals and rare penguins before you drop anchor in a sheltered cove. Here, you'll explore the dramatic coastline by kayak, tender boat or – for the brave – an icy swim. Warm back up with an indulgent three-course buffet dinner. Please note: the cruise does not operate during winter.

Stay:Fjordland Navigator (Superior)

Meals:BD

Day
10
Wanaka

After a night spent marvelling at the twinkling night sky and a morning spent further exploring the fjord, disembark and make your way to Wanaka, a small town on the edge of a stunning lake surrounded by the towering peaks of the Southern Alps. Spend the day exploring this gateway to the spectacular glaciers of the Mount Aspiring National Park. It's a more relaxed side to Queenstown, with equal opportunities for skiing and walking.

Day
11
Tekapo

Travel north towards Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest elevation. The peak’s permanent cover of snow and ice contrast vividly with the turquoise, glacier-fed lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, which stretch beneath its eastern flanks. Though surrounded by breathtaking scenery, Tekapo is little more than a roadside ribbon of buildings; its true draw is its setting. That said, you should certainly make the trip to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Overlooking the lake from a small raised platform, the tiny stone building was built as a memorial to the pioneers who opened up the region. Behind the rough-hewn Oamaru stone altar a square window perfectly frames the lake and surrounding hills and mountains.

Days
12-13
Christchurch/UK

Return your hire car at Christchurch airport in time to catch your flight home, arriving the following day. Alternatively, extend your stay in New Zealand with a tour of the country's beautiful North Island.

With a focus on food and wine, this luxury fly-drive covers many of New Zealand's highlights, taking in the everything from the rolling vineyards of Hawke's Bay to the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

With boutique hotel stays and car hire included throughout, this curated road trip perfectly showcases the unique cultures and natural wonders of New Zealand's North and South islands.

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can
arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced
destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on
020 7590 0614
to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.